The “War on Drugs” - 50 years on.
Nixon in 1971 said drug abuse “enemy number one”
who though is the enemy?
what though became a tool?
a grand illusion introduced
under the guise to cease violent crime
told as stemming from substance abuser,
the methods punitive, heavy handed, aggressive,
focused on enforcement at the end
products in turn lined denied lives a business
never looking at the beginning, the demand of
why
when whites die its deaths of despair
and yet African Americans, Latinx, Indigenous, AAPI,
are simply seen as addicts
pound for pound treatment through
strategic support,
education for prevention
reveal higher gains
but until these programs become the norm
this faulty policy continues to be the blank ticket
opened and written for anyone fitting the description
filled out to toss away people
racially profiled for profit.
With education we turned the tide on backward marijuana policies,
Education. Regulation stunted the second market which grew greed
and acknowledged violence as part of practice.
And while marijuana can be given an easy pass
as in no physical addiction, no death of overdose,
as it sits in its own separate class,
that rolled in years ago
it inspires a light
for a bigger push is needed
to reverse the indignity of inequity.
including in the growing community.
And even more-so for the impact
the failed policy
called
the war on drugs.
Nixon in 1971 said drug abuse “enemy number one”
who though is the enemy?
what though became a tool?
a grand illusion introduced
under the guise to cease violent crime
told as stemming from substance abuser,
the methods punitive, heavy handed, aggressive,
focused on enforcement at the end
products in turn lined denied lives a business
never looking at the beginning, the demand of
why
when whites die its deaths of despair
and yet African Americans, Latinx, Indigenous, AAPI,
are simply seen as addicts
pound for pound treatment through
strategic support,
education for prevention
reveal higher gains
but until these programs become the norm
this faulty policy continues to be the blank ticket
opened and written for anyone fitting the description
filled out to toss away people
racially profiled for profit.
With education we turned the tide on backward marijuana policies,
Education. Regulation stunted the second market which grew greed
and acknowledged violence as part of practice.
And while marijuana can be given an easy pass
as in no physical addiction, no death of overdose,
as it sits in its own separate class,
that rolled in years ago
it inspires a light
for a bigger push is needed
to reverse the indignity of inequity.
including in the growing community.
And even more-so for the impact
the failed policy
called
the war on drugs.
